clam

a kind of sea animal – mollusc – a general name given to any of small to large shellfish with two equal shells with a hinge that close the animal in (bivalves);

soft body between two shells

soft body without head or eyes, but with kidney, heart, mouth, arm-like organs to dig the burrows or to move, etc.; feed on plankton (= very tiny plant-like creatures in water) which they get by filter feeding (= taking the water in and passing it through fine feather like organs that filter the tiny particles); as the name is a general term used loosely for any bivalves, it is not easy to give a number to all the species (kinds); on average, live for 10-20 years, it is estimated that some species live up to 40 years; found on sand or in mud (silt) in sea waters all over the world

male ~~ male (in some species only)

female ~~ female (in some species only)

{in some other species an individual clam is capable of being a male and female}

baby ~~ larva

group ~~ bed  {a bed of clams}

Special Features:

clam ornament

The shells of clams have been worn as ornaments, used as money, and used for decorating places for thousands of years by people.

They have been a very good food source for many people for many years.

clams as food

There are large clam farms in many places around the world.

The reproductive system in clams is very interesting: in some species the male releases sperm into the water and the females release millions of eggs, and the eggs fertilise in the water;

giant clam

but in some species the same parent clam releases sperm first and then the eggs into the water, and the eggs fertilise in the water.

Figures of Speech:

1.

clam (noun)  =  a very secretive/uncommunicative person (= a person who refuses to talk about something; who keeps himself to himself)

2.

bearded clam  =  [said of a woman’s sex organs] {not to be used in formal situations}

3.

as close as a clam  =

(a)  [said of a person who is very careful with his money – does not spend, or give to anybody; stingy; mean]

(b)  [said of a person who is very tight-mouthed, tight-lipped, clam, i.e. not giving any information, usually about something he/she knows well]

4.

as happy as a clam at high tide  =  very happy

5.

(a)  to clam up

(b)  to shut up like a clam     =  to refuse to talk

(c)  ‘clamming up’

6.

clambake  =

(a)  a noisy, gay social party

(b)  a picnic by the sea where clams and other seafood are cooked in a special way and eaten

7.

clamshell CD case

clamshell  =  a plastic container (box) which has two equal parts joined by a hinge that can be closed shut

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